East Brunswick 2013 General Election Guide

Voters will hit the polls Tuesday to cast their ballots in the race for governor of New Jersey, in addition to a few district and county races.

Election season in East Brunswick will be active on the local front even with no Township Council seats up for election this year. Current Republican East Brunswick Mayor David Stahl is seeking the state senate seat of Barbara Buono, who left the seat vacant when she elected to run for governor.

In addition, current Democratic East Brunswick Township Councilwoman Nancy Pinkin is vying for a seat on the general assembly.

There are also four candidates vying for three open seats on the East Brunswick Board of Education.

Here are the other races up for election on Nov. 5. For more about the candidates, click the link to visit their web sites or candidate profiles:

East Brunswick Board of Education (three, three-year terms up for election)

• Incumbent Brad Cohen

• Incumbent Holly Howard

• Incumbent Curt Philipczak 

• Challenger Erum Shakir 

• Incumbent Republican Gov. Chris Christie and Lt. Gov. Kimberly Guadagno

• Democratic challenger Barbara Buono and running mate Milly Silva

• Republican Challenger David Stahl

• Democratic Challenger Peter Barnes

• Incumbent Democrat Patrick Diegnan

• Democratic Challenger Nancy Pinkin

• Republican Challenger Robert Bengivenga

• Republican Challenger Lisa Goldhamer

• Independent Challenger Sheila Angalet

• Incumbent Mildred S. Scott

• Challenger Jose A. Martinez 

• Incumbent Democrat Blanquita B. Valenti

• Incumbent Democrat Kenneth Armwood

• Democratic Challenger Charles Kenny

• Republican Challenger Roger Daley

• Republican Challenger Robert "Bob" Jones

• Republican Challenger Jordan Rickards

STATE PUBLIC QUESTION NO. 1 CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT TO PERMIT MONEY FROM EXISTING GAMES OF CHANCE TO SUPPORT VETERANS' ORGANIZATIONS 

Do you approve amending the Constitution to allow veterans' organizations to use money collected from existing games of chance to support their organizations?

INTERPRETIVE STATEMENT

This amendment to the Constitution would allow veterans' organizations to use the money collected from existing games of chance (such as bingo, lotto or raffles) to support their organizations. At present, the Constitution allows this money to be used only for educational, charitable, patriotic, religious or public-spirited purposes. Currently, only senior citizen groups may use the money they collect from existing games of chance to support their groups.

STATE PUBLIC QUESTION NO. 2 CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT TO SET A STATE MINIMUM WAGE WITH ANNUAL

Do you approve amending the State Constitution to set a State minimum wage rate of at least $8.25 per hour? The amendment also requires annual increases in that rate if there are annual increases in the cost of living.

INTERPRETIVE STATEMENT

This amendment to the State Constitution sets the State minimum wage at the level in effect under current law, or $8.25 per hour, whichever is more. Cost of living increases would be added each year. Also, if the federal minimum wage rate is raised above the State rate, the State rate would be raised to match the federal rate. Future cost of living increases then would be added to that raised rate.